The physical attractiveness stereotype, also known as the 'beautiful-is-good' stereotype, refers to the assumption that physically attractive individuals possess desirable personality traits such as intelligence, social competence, and morality. This stereotype leads to 'pretty privilege', where attractive people receive social, economic, and political advantages. It affects judgments in various areas, including employment, social opportunities, and legal decisions, often facilitating biased opinions when comparing individuals of different attractiveness levels.
A well-known example is how attractive candidates often secure better job offers compared to equally qualified unattractive candidates, as seen in various hiring studies where interviewers unconsciously favor good-looking applicants due to this bias.
To overcome the physical attractiveness stereotype, one should consciously focus on evaluating individuals based on their skills and qualities rather than their appearance, implementing structured assessments that minimize subjective bias during decision making.